"Sound healing" is a broad term uttered by many in our contemporary culture, Adrian DiMatteo lays out exactly what sound healing means and how we can use the practice to achieve presence and peace in our lives.
“Energy moves in Waves. Waves move in patterns. Patterns move in rhythms. A human being is just that — energy, waves, patterns, rhythms. Nothing more. Nothing less. A dance.” - 5Rhythms
Sound healing is a broad term that encompasses a variety of contemporary and traditional modalities. Sound baths, guided meditation, ecstatic dance, 5Rhythms, ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response), music therapy, psychological healing, mantra recitation, chanting, prayer, and other practices fall under this umbrella. In order to understand what is meant by “sound healing,” we must first explore the meaning of its two primary components - sound and healing.
Sound is a form of vibration. Vibration is the movement of energy through time and space. Sound (on the gross level) travels via mechanical pressure waves. These waves are known to interact with the physical world down to the atomic level. Atoms themselves vibrate and emit phonons, a unit of measurement akin to photons in the study of light. Stable wave patterns produce various frequencies, which have a wide range of effects on the environment. Although we typically think of sound as something audible, it can exist beyond the human hearing spectrum (20 - 20,000 hertz). Therefore, infrasound and ultrasound (below and above the audible range) also pertain to sound healing. Spoken and written language, internal monologue, song, and prayer are all forms of sound which can be used for healing.
Healing implies sickness, and sickness implies imbalance. Therefore, sound healing could be considered a means of “balancing vibration” or “balancing energy.” I prefer the term “sound meditation” when discussing these subjects, since people who participate in sound healing experiences are not necessarily sick. They may participate recreationally, or as a means of reflecting and setting intentions for the future. Meditation is a common translation of the sanskrit word dhyana, which has its roots in dhi (mind) and yana (moving). From this definition, we can see that meditation implies working with the movement, or vibration, of the mind. Through meditation we can observe, reflect, and respond to our environment with greater awareness. When we speak, our words strike the ears of listeners who internalize and interpret them. Therefore, two or more perspectives need to meet to make meaning out of sound.
From an early developmental stage, our minds form ideas about reality based on the words of others, and our observations of how people communicate shape our personal communication styles. The emotions associated with these interactions contribute to our understanding of truth, justice, self-preservation, and self-expression. Therefore, sound meditation begins with listening. The art of language expressed through literature, film, and music are reflections of this meditative process, further influencing our aesthetics and philosophies.
Sound meditation is ancient. Chants, prayers and songs have existed since prehistoric times, helping people to make sense of life and establish a connection between the human mind and higher consciousness, or let’s say: the organizing principle of the universe. Different linguistic structures underpin human interaction, shaping culture where individual and collective perspectives meet. These cultural definitions help us form an understanding of reality via cosmology, morality, academia, and so on. When things are not thoroughly meditated, confusion and deception arise, including both self-deception and the willful or unintended deception of others (e.g., propaganda, cognitive disorders, etc.). Dispelling ignorance, illusion, and negative thoughtforms are a primary function of sound meditation.
Diverse cultures have established an astounding variety of methods and protocols for facilitating sound meditation experiences. Although I prefer “meditation,” the term “healing” is widespread, and therefore I continue to use it in contexts where sound is applied to improve mental, emotional and physical health. Today, the world of sonic therapy can be divided into three fundamental categories, which may or may not require formal training or certification:
- Traditional and indigenous methods
- Empirical science-based, physiologically oriented treatment
- Experimental and intuitive approaches
While these categories are distinct, they share some essential elements. For one, a person who is facilitating a healing has the intention to help someone heal, and the recipient has an intention to be healed. Only then can two or more people engage in a fully consensual healing process. Once the “healer-patient” relationship is established, a “container” is created in which treatment can occur. This could be a hospital room, psychologist’s office, traditional ceremonial center, or any space chosen for the procedure - including distance healing and virtual experiences.
Image by Adrian DiMatteo
Innumerable instruments are used for sound meditation, some of the most common being the human voice, drums, rattles, flutes, chimes, Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, harmoniums and shruti boxes, didgeridoos, stringed instruments and more. These are the scalpels and anesthetics of a sound healing facilitator. Today, electronic instruments and body scanning technologies are also used to administer specific frequencies and measure electromagnetic responses throughout the brain and body. Beyond human technology, sound meditation can also involve environmental sounds such as wind, rain, thunder, ocean waves, fire crackling, animal calls and various sources of pink, white and brown noise. Furthermore, many sound meditations involve a variety of vibrational therapies including candle light, herbs, perfumes, and other sensory factors which contribute to the atmosphere of the experience.
Image by Adrian DiMatteo
Sound meditation is not merely a passive process. It may involve a person actively using their voice, playing instruments, or focusing the mind on specific thoughtforms such as mantras, affirmations or subjects of contemplation (e.g., impermanence or the nature of the self). Many people suffer from self-destructive beliefs, and feel inhibited when trying to express themselves, especially through song, public speaking, or various social interactions. They may feel restricted when it comes to sharing thoughts and feelings with friends, coworkers or loved ones. Chanting (i.e., “sounding,” or “toning”) is a powerful means of overcoming fear, shame, and self-consciousness surrounding the use of one's voice to communicate with others. Talk therapy, vocal workshops, and communication courses can help improve this area of life.
Nana Marina Cruz is a spiritual guide of the Mayan Tz'utujil people in Guatemala (or “Guatemaya” as some lovingly call it), and a spokesperson of her tradition. She shares, “When sound, music and words are inspired from the inside out, it fills you with deep gratitude. It is a way to heal by opening your voice.”
The vast world of sound cannot be easily distilled in words. There are so many intricacies and cultural considerations to take into account. For instance, in the Hindu tradition, raags (aka ragas) are not simply “songs,” although the Western ear might interpret them as such. These ancient melodies and musical forms come with many instructions, such as the time of day or season when they are to be invoked. In Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTS or Sowa Rigpa), patients are sometimes prescribed specific mantras to recite a precise number of times, in conjunction with dietary requirements. In various spiritual traditions, chants and calls to prayer occur at certain times on specific days, and may be forbidden to be used at any other time. This is not superstitiously motivated. Just as radiation must be regulated in cancer treatment, these vibrational therapies are carefully administered and monitored by the traditions under the guidance of qualified practitioners.
When indigenous people speak on these subjects, it may be so foreign to our ears that it can sound whimsical or abstract. We tend to seek empirical evidence, but if we acknowledge that indigenous wisdom-keepers are trained representatives of time-tested traditions, we can better appreciate the wisdom they share. Tito la Rosa is a widely recognized master of sound healing from the Peruvian Sacred Valley, and he offers this perspective:
“Sound as a luminous vibration can regenerate your cells, organize them, make them vibrate in harmony, remind them of their function. Sound...can communicate with your cells and it can heal; transform. But above all, in the School of Sound in Peru, we consider sound to be an expression of love, something magic that permits you to live a transforming, luminous experience. Also, we link sound with the sacred Chakana, which is the organizer of the universe.”
These concepts evoke technologies such as genetic modification and infrasound therapy, but also the artful, therapeutic qualities of human expression. They speak to the nature of the universe as a fundamentally vibratory phenomenon. From that perspective, we can see that modern science and ancient spirituality are engaged in a similar conversation - exploring the primal power of sound.
Sound and silence (speaking and listening) are the basic ingredients of harmony, giving rise to action and reaction. How you behave towards yourself and others is an indication of physical, mental and emotional balance. Sound meditation encourages finding the most harmonious way to interact with the world, beyond daily conflict and the apparent contradictions of good and bad; right and wrong. What is harmonious for one is not necessarily harmonious for another. Therefore, sound healing is context-dependent. It is not a one-size-fits-all, over-the-counter medicine. Each person must explore the vast resources available, and determine what practices and sonic diet are best for them. The fundamental goal of sound meditation is to help a person return to complete alignment of mind, body and spirit; to a state of presence beyond the impermanent suffering of human experience.
